Development

"The Witch of the Wastes" is a champion that's been sat on my back burner for a while. I was initially inspired by a large number of "animated" or "anthropomorphic" animals that seemed to originate from Plague Lands and neighbouring jungles, including Wukong, Nidalee, Rengar and previously Rammus (although his origin has since been associated with Shurima), as well as my own champion concept, Zargonil. I imagined some sort of witch or shaman had been experimenting on animals, but never really explored this further.

At another point, I encountered the phrase, "the Witch of the Wastes" entirely out of any context and it immediately brought back thoughts of the Plague Witch. There was something... fitting about the title. I learned later that the title belongs to a character from Howl's Moving Castle, but it's still something I'm attached to.

And then today, I stumbled upon some artwork that inspired me. And not just the artwork itself, though amazing, but it reminded me of the vine-bender from Avatar; as well as the living-brush ability I drafted for Zyra; and the brush-burrowing ability from Heroes of the Storm's new champion, Dehaka, whom I had learned about only earlier the same day. I suddenly wanted to create a plant mage, but one that's very different from Zyra - a champion who brings the jungle alive and has very similar windows of strength to Rengar and Skarner (although in a more intuitive way than Skarner).

I also wanted to explore the possibility of an "assume command" unit, that even her allies can climb into to "shape shift", so to speak. Even just writing this, I imagine perhaps that The Witch of the Waste leaves behind a body suit when she dies that her allies can climb into to gain control. Perhaps, even, the Witch respawns at the body suit's current location... "blooming once more", so to speak.

Personality

Pernelle's personality draws parallels from Glaistig Uaine from the web serial, Worm, in that she speaks with an air of someone who is aware of the world's plot and how each of the characters plays a part in the eventual end. On top of this, it is never quite apparent whose side she is on.

Little of what she says makes all that much sense, or she uses too many metaphors and analogies that the original meaning is hard to make out.

I had originally intended for her "name" to simply be Witch, with her title being "of the Wastes", such that she is technically nameless and remarks on this in her quotes. However, the name Pernelle (also spelled Perenelle) has been nagging me to use it and given the character of Pernelle, it's not an inappropriate name for The Witch of the Wastes.

Lore

Plague Lands

Ranged, The Witch of the Wastes

Spirit

Plague Lands

Background:

Easter Egg

Whenever a unit dies within a brush that is under Pernelle's influence, their corpse will be absorbed into the undergrowth rather than triggering their own death animation.

Dying within a brush during the patch preceding her release will trigger this same interaction, with some dialogue to accompany it.

Quotes:

Beginning a game

"I am nameless and yet known by many names. It doesn't matter."

"I am known by many names, all given unto me though none of them mine. To some I am Gaia, although not for a long time. To others, simply Goddess, and Empress, although such titles are not appropriate."

Passive:Pernelle's basic attacks will cause any brush nearby to her attack to also lash at them, dealing magic damage. This damage applies spell effects.

Magic Damage: 35 / 55 / 75 / 95 / 115 (+5 × level) (+20% AP)

Entrench

COOLDOWN: 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10

Active: After a 0.875 second delay, all nearby brush grasps onto all units within them, dealing magic damage and rooting them for a short duration, as well as knocking them down.

Magic Damage: 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 / 240 (+70% AP)

Root Duration: 1 / 1.25 / 1.5 / 1.75 / 2

The following ultimate was ported from Heroes of the Storm in an attempt to preserve the scrapped Similacrum ability (see below), although it may not be the pinnacle of design. Mounts are a relatively unexplored niche, and a giant battle plant that tears apart civilization isn't a bad pet.

Abhorrent Growth

COOLDOWN: 180 / 120 / 60

Passive: An Abhorrent Growth blooms beside Pernelle's fountain, which lasts for 90 seconds. Any allied champion can interact with the Abhorrent Growth to climb inside, gaining access to an unique set of abilities. The cooldown on Abhorrent Growth begins when it perishes.

Abhorrent Growth

Abhorrent Growth

The Abhorrent Growth has entirely independent stats to its controller, whom is safely stowed at the growth's core. The controller's abilities, items and masteries are disabled for the duration.

Vile Plume

STATIC COOLDOWN: 14 seconds

Active: After a brief delay, the Abhorrent Growth emits a nova of spores that each polymorph and terrify the first enemy they hit for 3 seconds.

Animate Entangler

STATIC COOLDOWN: 24 seconds

Active: The Abhorrent Growth spawns a thicket of thorns that expands outward from the target location and lasts for 8 seconds. Structures within the thicket are disabled, with both units and structures within the area taking magic damage every second.

Previous Abilities

Simulacrum

Innate: Upon death, Pernelle leaves behind a Simulacrum. Allies can interact with the Simulacrum to assume control, gaining access to Pernelle's abilities. The occupant is forced to exit when Pernelle is due to respawn in 4 seconds. Pernelle will respawn at her Simulacrum's position, and can start controlling her movement up to 3 seconds prior.